CSCI India chapter launches energy saving program

New Delhi: The climate savers computing initiative (CSCI), a global initiative launched its India chapter, with nine major organizations including Dell, Intel, HP,Google WWF, TERI,  CII-ITC Center Of Excellence For Sustainable Development, Manufacturers' Association of IT (MAIT) and Nasscom joining hands with the aim of driving energy efficient practices in every-day computing.

As per the IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker for Q408, 4.1 million more desktop PCs and 2.4 million more notebook PCs will be in use in India by 2009. Hence, the country will have approx 47 million units by 2010.

It is calculated that more than half of the power in the desktop PC is wasted as heat. Even servers which are typically more efficient than desktops still waste 30 to 40 percent of the power utilized. One of the prominent reasons behind wastage of power is that desktop PCs have default setting of sleep or hibernate mode when inactive for a sustained duration however, in about 90 percent of systems this functionality has been disabled.  This results in higher energy consumption and an increase in electricity usage. In addition, IT users have lack of awareness about the power saving features which are already available in their computers.

"In next 3 years, the Climate Savers Computing Initiative will cut greenhouse gas emissions in an amount equal to planting around 4800 sq.km. of trees -- a significant step in reducing the emissions affecting our planet," said Rahul Bedi, Director-Corporate Affairs- South Asia, Intel and first Chairman of CSCI India Chapter.

"We believe that CSCI India will play a crucial role in supplementing green ICT innovations and solutions. CSCI's goal to achieve a 50 percent reduction in power consumption by computers and reduce 4 million tons of carbon emission over next 3 years can be a potential supplement towards India's low carbon growth," said Ravi Singh, Co-Chairman, CSCI India and CEO and Secretary General, WWF India. The reduction in energy and power are the fiscal points to ensure sustainable growth for both the ICT sector and meeting country's bigger objectives under the National Action Plan on Climate Change that involves ICT solutions.

The corporate and association board members of CSCI India joined hands with the other members in a pledge to promote smart technologies and best practices and sensitize organizations and individuals towards adopting power management techniques.  "We pledge to promote best practices and technologies for efficient computing for a Greener Earth" went a declaration signed by all the members, in the presence of Chief Guest Shri Jairam Ramesh, Hon'ble Minister of State for Environment & Forests, and Guest of Honour Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General Bureau of Energy Efficiency.

The climate savers computing initiative licensed its name from the World Wildlife Fund Climate Savers program, which involves several leading companies working to reduce their carbon footprint.